Essentially, in my simplistic understanding, Julian has identified a generic cell marker that in a normal functioning cell tells it when it's time to die (apoptosis) then lets our immune system mop it up making space for new healthy cells to grow.
Cancer cells put up a 'non-functioning' version of the marker which is not recognised by our immune system and so those cells live forever, multiplying and taking over the tissue space we need to live.
Julian and his team have developed antibodies that interact with the non-functioning markers in a way that re-activates apoptosis and a method of cell therapy that boosts our t-cells to take out the cancer cells.
Biosceptre believes this technology has the potential to clear many forms of cancer.
I'll try and detail the actual treatment and other therapies offered here as we go and update on any progress.
We are obviously at the beginning of this journey and no one knows the outcome but if it is of interest or helps others along the way it's worth the effort.
Conventional v 'alternative' treatments – cats and dogs.
Over the past six months of treatment at the POW for Stage 4 oesophogeal/stomach cancer with metastasis – radiation to treat the worst symptoms of the initial tumor (bleeding and difficulty swallowing) and more recently 3 x 21 day rounds of Chemo (Cisplatin with 1000mg Xeloda 2 x daily) we think we have seen a small improvement in the metastasis in the lungs (now clear) and peritoneum. We got the latest scan just before leaving fro Genmany and I have attached it below.
So is it a big decision to stop the chemo if it appears to be having some effect. Certainly Dr Goldstein thinks so and he has a valid point that this treatment is unproven. There seems to be a view that until options run out it's better to stick with conventional trialled proven treatments. Then when chemo fails (and it will) move on to any last hope.
It seems to me that in my case chemo may just buy a few more months of debilitating tiredness and other side effects and I would be unlikely to get another chance at Julian's therapy. I'm fortunate that we can afford the time and cost to go down this path and fortunate too that I have the support of Laurel and the family.
"So this therapy has been tested on 8 cats" Dr Goldstein pointed out - where are the 1000's of human trials results? There aren't any Laurel pointed out, it's a trial. And so I take the role of the ninth cat!
Ultimately I guess being in London or Sydney further chemo may still be an option later but in the meantime we're going to give this a red hot go.
In the words of Mo and Kenn – "It's not the size of the dog in the fight but the size of the fight in the dog"
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